Chillwaukee Plans Summer of Third Ward Pop-Ups
Plus: Two food festivals and a fresh look for Piggly Wiggly.
Sam (left) and Alyssa Wisneski. Photo courtesy of Sam and Alyssa Wisneski.
There’s a cold front rolling in at Milwaukee Public Market.
Chillwaukee will be putting the pop in pop-up this summer, bringing an array of popsicles and Hawaiian-inspired shaved ice to the market’s patio at 400 N. Water St. on weekends throughout the season.
The bicycle-powered business has been a prominent presence at local markets and festivals since its 2017 launch under founders Collin Wallace and Danielle Dahl, and now continues with Sam and Alyssa Wisneski at the helm; the married couple purchased Chillwaukee in 2023.
Last summer, the Wisneskis expanded the brand with a trailer serving shaved ice. The treats feature housemade syrups and toppings such as fresh fruit, mochi balls and popping boba.
Chillwaukee’s ever-changing list of popsicles includes flavors such as strawberry mango, chocolate-dipped peanut butter banana and blue moon. Gluten-free and vegan options are a regular part of the rotation.
Following its launch at the market this summer — an official date has not yet been announced — Chillwaukee will be open Fridays and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Sundays from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
For updates and additional information, visit Chillwaukee on Instagram or Facebook.
Third Ward Could Get New Chicken Chain
Char’d, a modern Korean restaurant located in the Historic Third Ward, announced its closure last weekend after just over eight years in business.
In an online post, owners Choonghoon Lee and Lane Kim shared gratitude for customers who “embraced our food, our culture, and our little corner of this city,” while also teasing a new concept proposed for the restaurant space at 222 E. Erie St.
They plan to reopen next month as part of the Korean-style barbecue chain bb.q Chicken. “We’ve been cooking up something new, and we can’t wait to share it,” the owners wrote in the post.
The Return of Milwaukee Dumpling Fest
Empanada, pierogi, shumai, momo — any and all combinations of filling and dough are welcome at Milwaukee Dumpling Fest, which returns June 28 for its fourth year.
ElevAsian and Visit Milwaukee sponsor the annual event, which brings together local chefs to riff on the humble — and highly versatile — dumpling for a chance to win the coveted Golden Gyoza trophy.
“Every culture has a form of dumpling,” ElevAsian said in an online statement. “Whether it’s steamed, fried, boiled or baked — if it’s a delicious filling wrapped in dough, we are celebrating it.”
This year’s festival will take place at a new venue, Prairie Springs on Park, 1420 E. Park Pl., with participants including chef Alex Lyskowicz, Amilinda, The Bartolotta Restaurants, Benson’s Restaurant Group, Chao’s Kitchen, Cute Robot Japanese Kitchen, EsterEv, Lucky Ginger, Mezcla Fusion Revolution, Mosaic Catering, Noble Catering, Phat Dumpling, Saffron, Semolina MKE, Serious Sanji and Sinta.
Milwaukee Restaurants Go Halal For Annual Restaurant Week
On the heels of the major Islamic holiday Eid al-Adha, Halal Restaurant Week returns to Milwaukee June 5-14, with 11 participating restaurants offering specials ranging from brunch and brisket to lobster and lamb chops.
Chefs across the area will present their takes on halal dishes, prepared in accordance with Islamic dietary guidelines, throughout the 10-day event.
Best-known restrictions include the prohibition of pork and alcohol; however, halal also informs how permissible meats are slaughtered and processed.
Though it may sound daunting, preparing halal food in a restaurant setting can be as simple as swapping vendors or special-ordering proteins, while being mindful of cross-contamination and missteps, such as using wine to deglaze a pan.
Bay View Piggly Wiggly Unveils Renovation
Piggly Wiggly in Bay View is set to debut a multimillion-dollar renovation this weekend, welcoming shoppers for the first time to its freshly revamped store at 123 W. Oklahoma Ave.
The project, guided by feedback from neighbors and store employees, includes aesthetic updates such as new flooring, paint, signage, aisle markers and displays, along with a revised layout and expanded inventory of products.
“We’ve really been trying to make it a little bit more modern, more relevant and overall a better shopping experience,” said Terry Goins, director of marketing and advertising for Piggly Wiggly Midwest.
Among major changes, the store’s in-house bakery, Panaderia Azteca, now occupies a more prominent space near the main entrance, while the deli and butcher displays have been rebuilt with visual appeal and accessibility in mind.
Southside Bar Eyes New Location
After just over a year of operation in the Forest Home Hills neighborhood, Dulce Diabla Bar is planning a new southside location.
Owner Gilari Cortes Reyna recently applied for an occupancy permit at 1537 S. César E Chávez Dr., a commercial space currently home to Don Julio’s Bar & Club.
The existing business has operated for a decade at the location, most recently under Ruben Medina Perdomo. It has an active license that is set to expire in November, though city records indicate a transfer is pending.
According to the application, Cortes Reyna plans to transform the 1,295-square-foot tavern into a bar, dance club and sit-down restaurant, doing business as Dulce Diabla Bar.
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Fire Closes Burnham Park Tavern
Lucky’s Ice House Bar & Grill is closed until further notice after a June 1 fire damaged the building at 4238 W. Orchard St.
Owner Thomas Schweiger shared an update on social media Monday afternoon, confirming that nobody was injured in the blaze. “Everyone is safe,” he wrote. “Unfortunately, we will not be opening or shuttling to games until further notice.”
Photos of the scene show emergency vehicles parked along Miller Park Way and Orchard Street while crews worked on the ground and roof to extinguish the fire, which reportedly spread from the building’s basement into its walls and upper floors.
The Burnham Park building sits near the border of Milwaukee and West Milwaukee and has served as a neighborhood watering hole under various names and owners for more than 100 years.
Mexican Food Truck Plans Brick-and-Mortar Restaurant
A new restaurant, La Flamita, is slated to open at 2100 W. Hopkins St., filling a standalone building once home to Pizza House.
It would mark the first permanent location for the business, which has operated for years as a food truck.
Efrain Jimenez Mendoza is behind the proposed restaurant, which would serve Mexican dishes including tortas, tacos al pastor and handmade huaraches, according to a license application.
The menu could also feature chimichangas, birria, gorditas, quesadillas and tacos wrapped in freshly prepared tortillas, alongside snacks such as loaded Dorito nachos. Meat options would include pastor, asada, chorizo, chicken, tripe, tongue, ground beef and cabeza.
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At Bad Moon Saloon, Comfort Food Gets A Not Bad Upgrade
Bad Moon Saloon has met its match. A new food trailer, Not Bad Foods, is soon to join the rock-‘n’-roll tavern as a resident vendor, offering a menu of comfort food with ingredients that “make it interesting.”
The custom-built trailer made the journey from Texas to Milwaukee. The business is led by Scott Zajork, an industry veteran with years of experience at local standouts including Goodkind, St. Paul Fish Company, DanDan, Snack Boys and The Vanguard, where he spent the past four years overseeing menu development and specials.
“A lot of these guys — all the owners and chefs of these restaurants — have been friends of mine for years,” he said. “I was really trying to explore different cuisines and learn new things from different chefs.”
Takeout-Focused Hmong Buffet Planned for Milwaukee
A new restaurant proposed on the Northwest Side would make it easy to grab a heaping plate of roast duck, noodles and spring rolls in just a few minutes.
Sam Vang and his partner, Choua Lor, plan to open Asian H Express at 3902 N. 76th St., bringing new life to the shuttered Jackie’s Cafe space, while continuing their family’s presence in Milwaukee’s dining scene.
The “H” in Asian H Express stands for Hmong, which will represent the majority of dishes at the all-day restaurant, though Thai and Lao cuisine will also be offered.
Vang said the business will emphasize efficiency, offering a broad range of ready-made foods. Customers will select their preferred items, which will be plated, priced by weight — $12.99 per pound, according to Vang — and packaged for carryout. Dine-in service will not be available.
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